Plasmonic transducer having two metal elements with a gap disposed therebetween

An apparatus comprising:

• a waveguide configured to deliver light to a transducer region;
• a plasmonic transducer that includes two metal elements configured as side-by-side plates on a substrate-parallel plane with a gap therebetween, the gap disposed along the substrate-parallel plane and having an input end disposed proximate the transducer region and an output end, wherein the metal elements comprise top and bottom surfaces aligned with the substrate-parallel plane, wherein the gap is larger proximate the bottom surfaces than the top surfaces, and wherein edges formed by the top surfaces and edges of the metal elements facing the gap are non-right angled;
• wherein the plasmonic transducer is configured to provide a surface plasmon-enhanced near-field radiation pattern proximate the output end in response to the light received at the transducer region.